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[Global Times reporter Guo Yuandan] After the "2+2" talks between the US and Philippine foreign and defense ministers, the two navies held a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea on July 31. Experts interviewed by the Global Times reporter believe that this move by the US and the Philippines shows that the cooperation between the two sides has substantive content and has the ability to implement it.

Reuters quoted a statement from the Philippine military on July 31 as saying that the latest joint maritime exercise was conducted in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, with a total of two ships participating from both sides. The exercise aims to strengthen communication and operational coordination between the two countries' navies.

According to previous reports, US Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin held a "2+2" meeting with Philippine Foreign Minister Manalo and Defense Minister Teodoro in Manila, Philippines on July 30. After the meeting, the US announced that it would provide the Philippines with $500 million in foreign military financing "to help the Philippines modernize its army and coast guard."

On July 30, 2024, local time, U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, Philippine Foreign Minister Manalo, and Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro attended the U.S.-Philippine Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers "2+2" meeting. (Visual China)

Regarding the upcoming US-Philippines joint exercise, Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Marine Law and Policy at the China Institute of South China Sea Studies, said in an interview with the Global Times on August 1 that both the "2+2" talks and the maritime joint exercise were finalized by the two sides in advance, which shows that there were many details in the communication this time, and it was very specific. "It is not ruled out that the joint exercise had to be postponed due to the typhoon, but this coincidence shows to the outside world that the two sides have substantive cooperation and are capable of implementing high-level strategic consultations."

In November 2023, the United States and the Philippines conducted their first joint sea and air patrol in the South China Sea since 2016, and then the joint patrols and exercises between the United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea became normalized. "Through joint exercises, the United States and the Philippines can improve the interoperability of information systems, simulate some scenarios, and help the Philippines perceive the maritime situation, improve the utilization of intelligence, and cooperate with the United States to build a battlefield environment. This may be of some substantial help." Ding Duo analyzed that the United States aims to further control the Philippines to prevent the Philippines' South China Sea policy, China policy and foreign policy from seriously deviating from the US strategy or not meeting the US interests. "The real purpose is that the Philippines cannot and does not need to have an independent strategic orientation. The US orientation is the Philippines' orientation."

Regarding the intentions of the United States and the Philippines, Ding Duo analyzed that in addition to exposing the intentions and dangers of the United States and the Philippines in diplomatic public opinion, the Chinese Coast Guard and the People's Liberation Army will also take corresponding measures against their maritime activities, including exercises and training activities. China has sufficient capabilities to deal with all kinds of situations.

On the same day that the United States and the Philippines conducted a joint maritime exercise, the Canadian frigate "Montreal" sailed through the Taiwan Strait and publicly hyped it up. Li Xi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, said that the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to monitor and guard the entire process and deal with it in accordance with the law. Canada's actions disturbed the situation and undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Eastern Theater Command troops are always on high alert and ready to respond to any threats and provocations at any time.

Ding Duo said that Canada's passing through the Taiwan Strait and publicly hyping it up has greater symbolic significance. He said: "This fully shows that the United States is pushing its allies to cooperate with its Indo-Pacific strategy. The South China Sea and Taiwan Strait issues are both means for the United States to contain China. To a certain extent, US allies take symbolic actions to show that they follow US policies."